A Florida two-year-old died after shooting himself.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office recently received a heartbreaking call: a two-year-old boy had been shot. The boy was rushed to the hospital, but he tragically lost his life.
The initial local law enforcement investigation revealed the young boy had somehow accessed a firearm in his Northside home in Jacksonville.
The gunshot he suffered from was self-inflicted. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit detectives were investigating how the boy was able to get ahold of the weapon.
“This was a 100% preventable tragedy,” JSO posted. They reminded the community that being a responsible gun owner starts with safe storage. If a firearm is not on you, it should be secured. Keep firearms locked and out of the reach of children. Use a gun safe, lockbox, or trigger lock to prevent unauthorized access. Never leave a firearm unsecured in your home or vehicle.
Law enforcement is also encouraging parents and guardians to talk to kids. Teach children that real guns are not toys and can seriously hurt or kill someone. If they ever find a gun, they should Stop. Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult. Ask family members, babysitters, and the parents of children’s friends how firearms are stored in their homes.
In Florida, it is against the law to knowingly leave a loaded firearm accessible to a child under 16 when the child could gain access without permission.
If a child accesses an unsecured firearm and uses it to cause injury or death, the gun owner may face criminal charges, in addition to the devastating consequences for the child, family, and community, according to law enforcement.
In a recent update, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had free gun locks available at the District 1 (5258 Norwood Avenue) and District 2 (9119 Merrill Road) substations. They were actively working to restock them at the other four substations.
